TY - JOUR
T1 - Geographical variation in egg mass and egg content in a passerine bird
AU - Ruuskanen, S.
AU - Siitari, H.
AU - Eeva, T.
AU - Belskii, E.
AU - Järvinen, A.
AU - Kerimov, A.
AU - Krams, I.
AU - Moreno, J.
AU - Morosinotto, C.
AU - Mänd, R.
AU - Möstl, E.
AU - Orell, M.
AU - Qvarnström, A.
AU - Salminen, J.P.
AU - Slater, F.M.
AU - Tilgar, V.
AU - Visser, M.E.
AU - Winkel, W.
AU - Zang, H.
AU - Laaksonen, T.
N1 - Reporting year: 2011
Metis note: 5112; WAG; AnE
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Reproductive, phenotypic and life-history traits in many animal and plant taxa show geographic variation, indicating spatial
variation in selection regimes. Maternal deposition to avian eggs, such as hormones, antibodies and antioxidants, critically
affect development of the offspring, with long-lasting effects on the phenotype and fitness. Little is however known about
large-scale geographical patterns of variation in maternal deposition to eggs. We studied geographical variation in egg
components of a passerine bird, the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), by collecting samples from 16 populations and
measuring egg and yolk mass, albumen lysozyme activity, yolk immunoglobulins, yolk androgens and yolk total
carotenoids. We found significant variation among populations in most egg components, but ca. 90% of the variation was
among individuals within populations. Population however explained 40% of the variation in carotenoid levels. In contrast
to our hypothesis, we found geographical trends only in carotenoids, but not in any of the other egg components. Our
results thus suggest high within-population variation and leave little scope for local adaptation and genetic differentiation
in deposition of different egg components. The role of these maternally-derived resources in evolutionary change should be
further investigated.
AB - Reproductive, phenotypic and life-history traits in many animal and plant taxa show geographic variation, indicating spatial
variation in selection regimes. Maternal deposition to avian eggs, such as hormones, antibodies and antioxidants, critically
affect development of the offspring, with long-lasting effects on the phenotype and fitness. Little is however known about
large-scale geographical patterns of variation in maternal deposition to eggs. We studied geographical variation in egg
components of a passerine bird, the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), by collecting samples from 16 populations and
measuring egg and yolk mass, albumen lysozyme activity, yolk immunoglobulins, yolk androgens and yolk total
carotenoids. We found significant variation among populations in most egg components, but ca. 90% of the variation was
among individuals within populations. Population however explained 40% of the variation in carotenoid levels. In contrast
to our hypothesis, we found geographical trends only in carotenoids, but not in any of the other egg components. Our
results thus suggest high within-population variation and leave little scope for local adaptation and genetic differentiation
in deposition of different egg components. The role of these maternally-derived resources in evolutionary change should be
further investigated.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0025360
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0025360
M3 - Article
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 6
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
IS - 11
M1 - e25360
ER -